Worst drought in Texas weakens

Valerie Lozano makes her way past some early morning mist on East Commerce street Monday February 13, 2012. Lozano was on her way to work at Rivercenter Mall.

Photo By JOHN DAVENPORT/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Pedestrians cross East Commerce street in the early morning drizzle Monday February 13, 2012 near Rivercenter Mall. Tuesday's forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with a high of 74 degrees.

Photo By JOHN DAVENPORT/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Pedestrians with umbrellas make their way past a steamy grate on East Commerce street early Monday morning near Rivercenter Mall. Tuesday's forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with a high of 74 degrees.

The worst yearlong drought in the recorded history of Texas is starting to show signs of breaking in San Antonio.

On Monday, the Edwards Aquifer Authority removed Stage 1 restrictions on pumping from the Edwards Aquifer in the San Antonio Pool.

San Antonio residents, however, are still only allowed to water their lawns once a week.

The EAA's Stage 2 pumping restrictions remain in place for Uvalde County.

The biggest factor as to whether this year will continue to be wet or go dry is the type of La Niña weather pattern that develops, explained NWS meteorologist Clay Anderson.

La Niña, while still in place, is weakening.

Dallas is already out of the drought and Houston is at the moderate level, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

But the pattern could easily switch.

“In June it had all but disappeared,” Anderson said. “And then it came back with vengeance.”

Stage 1 watering restrictions in San Antonio will remain in place until the J-17 monitoring well stays above 660 feet for 30 days. J-17 rose above 660 on Feb. 4, which means the once-a-week lawn watering rules won't be lifted until at least March 6, SAWS spokeswoman Anne Hayden said.

“We are still 9 inches below for rainfall,” Hayden said, pointing out with the abundant rain so far this year and most grass still being dormant, homeowners do not need to water their lawns anyway.

Even the EAA is not optimistic the J-17 well will stay above 660.

More rain is in the forecast for Wednesday, but farmers are expected to start irrigating by the end of the month, which will drastically increase demand on the aquifer.

That will be followed by homeowners starting to water their lawns.

“We are certain to go back in if we don't have more rainfall,” EAA spokesman Roland Ruiz said. “The trend is as we go out of the low-demand period and into the high demand, the aquifer will fall.”

The next two weeks could stay wet, starting with up to a quarter-inch of rain Wednesday.